Cultivating tractor



July 2, 1929. 5 CUSHMAN 1.7-1 9.594

CULTIVATING TRACTOR Filed Oct. 3, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwomto'a l.d. dzw'krrm July 2, 1929,.- L. "s; CUSHMAN CULTIVATING TRACTOR Filed Oct. 3, 1927 4 Sheets$heet 2 July 2, 1 929. s, CUSHMAN 1.719.594

CULTIVATING TRACTOR Filed Oct. 3, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 2, 1929. I s, cus 1.719594 CULTIVATING TRACTOR Filed Oct. s, 1927 -4 Sheets-Sheef, 4

Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES LESLIE S. CUSH MAN, OF EDEN, CALIFORNIA.

CULTIVATING TRACTOR.

, Application filedOctober 3, 1927. Serial No. 223,757.

This invention relates to a cultivating tractor, one of the objects being to provide a single steering wheel which, when actuated, will cause the front wheels of the machine and the cultivating element to shift synchronously, the machine being maintained in the proper path by the driver who can watch the position of the cultivating element without paying any attention to the positions of the front wheels.

A further object is to provide means where by the front wheels can be turned independ ently of the movement of the cultivating element, said wheels being so mounted as to be movable through 180, thereby enabling the machine to be turned to the right or to the left in a circle about one or the other of the rear or driving wheels.

Another object is to provide a machine all of the wheels of which can be adjusted vertically, thereby to adapt the machine to the slope of the ground or the depth of the furrows and consequently maintain the machine substantially level, and allowing the machine to be so adjusted as to travel with its frame as close to the ground as the nature of the work will permit. 1

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description 3 proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred fornrof the invention has been shown. In said drawings, V v

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Figure? is a top plan View thereof, the motor being removed I I v t Figure 3 is all-enlarged front elevation, a portion being shown in section. v

Figure 4 is an elevation of one of the spindles of the rear wheels. a portion of the struc tureengaged thereby being shownin section. Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the front end' portion of one of the cultivator beams and adjacent parts.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectionon line 66, Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a view showing more or less in diagram the connection between the shaft of Figure 8 is asection through one of the brakes.

Figure 9 is a section on line 99, Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a rear elevation of one of the yokes, the bracket connected thereto being in section and a portion of the shaft being shown. l Referring to the figures by'characters of reference 1 designates the frame of the machine provided at the front end thereof with depending extensions 2 each having upper and lower bearing members 3 and 4 respectively projecting laterally therefrom. Connected to. and rotatably mounted between these upper and lower bearing members are yokes 5 each having a longitudinal series of apertures 6 extending transversely therethrough. Any one of these apertures is adapted to receive a threaded stem 7 extending from the inner end of a spindle 8 supported by one of the front wheels 9 of the machine. Each stem is adapted to be clamped in place by a nut 10 or the like as shown in Figure 3. The upper end of each yoke 5 has a short shaft 11 extending therefrom constituting the upper pivot of the yoke and secured to this shaft is a sheave 12 adapted to rotate therewith and provided with a peripheral groove. Each sheave is pivotally connectedas at 13 to a cross bar 14.- Thus it will be seen that when one of the wheels 9 is, turned the other wheel will be correspondingly turned.

Depending from the sides of the frame 1 near the rear end thereof are wings 15 each of which has an arcuate slot 16 concentric with the axis of rotation of a drive shaft 17 ex tending transversely of the frame 1. This shaft is preferably mounted for rotation in afhousing 18 secured on the frame 1 and which housing includes a difierentialindicated generally. at 19.

Secured toeach end of the shaft 17 is a sprocket 20 and likewise secured to each end portion of the shaft is a brake including a drum 21 preferably disposed within a housing 22 and extending around an expansible friction ring 23 anchored as at 24 to the housing 22. This brake is of the usual construction, the free ends of the band being adapted to be shifted apart by the actuation of a cam 25 connected to a rotatable shaft 26 which, in turn, is adapted to be actuated by 20 save a chain 30 which engages the p sprocket 31 secured to and rotatable withone of the supporting wheels 32. Each of these supporting wheels journaled on a spindle 33 which, as shown in Figures 1 and hhas a threaded stem 3% extending through the slot 16 and adapted to be clan'iped'thcrein by means of a nut Thus it will be seen that either or both of the wheels 32 can be ad justed angular-1y about the shaft 17 without interfering with the transmission of motion from said shaft tothe wheel.

Extending transversely of and secured to the frame 1 is a shaft 36 on which yokes 37 are mounted. Each yoke has an integral.

bracket 38 carrying a sheave 239 and pivotallyconnected to each yoke 37 is the front forked en d 4:0 of a cultivator, cam il. v This forked end is connected to the yoke as shown at 42- in Figure 5. Beam etl is extended rearwardly and can be of any desired construction, any suitable cultivating element indicated at 42 being connected to this beam. In the structure illustrated two of these beams have been illustrated, the same being connected by a tiansvcrse connecting yoke 13 pivotally attached to the beam but constitutingmeans for insuring simultaneous lateral movement of the beam.

Rigidly co'nnected'to sleeves 37 on the outer sides ofthe yokes '37 arcbrackets 41 1 each of which carries a sheave 45. These sheaves are located between the wheels 32 and the beams 11, Both sheaves are engaged by cables t6 attached to the beams 11 and extending laterally to andpartly around the sheaves 4:5. From these sheaves the cables are extended forwardly and upwardly into. engagement with guide sheaves 39 and thence toward each other under and in engagen'ient with a pair of sheaves '41? mounted in a bracket d8. The two cables 16 cross upwardly between the'sheaves and are connected to the ends of the chain lQwhich is mounted on and engages a sprocket 50. This sprocket is secured to a sleeve 51through which is extended a steering shaft 52. A steering wheel 53 is connected to the back end portion of the shaft 52. A clutch member 54 is slidable on and rotatable with shaft 52 and is adapted to be shifted by lever 55 or the like so to move into or out of engagement with the sleeve 51. It will be obvious that when the clutch'men'iber 5 1 is in engagement with the sleeve 51 rotation of shaft 52 will result in rotation of the sprocket and, consequently, the chain 49 will be actuated so as to pull on one or the other of the cables 46* and cause the beams tl to swing to the right or to the left.

Another sprocket 56 is seemed to the shaft 52 so to rotate therewith at all times and this sprocket engages a chain 57 the ends of which are attached to cables 58 which extend downwardly and forwardly under guide sheaves 59. From these sheaves the cables "indicated atGl so that when the cables are actuated the twosheaves 12 will be caused to rotate simultz'meously in the same direction. For the purpose of maintaining the cables 57 taut there may be provided with suitable tightening means such as turnbiurkles G2.

The motorof the machine has been indicated generally at (33 and is adapted to transmit motion through a shaft (i l to the dill'erential 19.

A seatfor the driver has been indicated at and is so located that the occupant can have ready access to the steering wheel 53 and to the lovers 27 as well as to the lever 66 controlling the transmission. Seat is also positioned where the occupant can easily watch the cultivating element 42 while in use.

By carefully examining the arrangement of sprockets, chains and cables it will be noted that when the shaft 52 is turned to swing wheels 9 to the left, the connections between said shaft and the beams will also swing said beainsdl to the left. Thus as the machine is travelling forwardly the operator need only watch the positions of the cultivating elements 42. Should these become positioned too far to the right of the furrows, hills or the like, it merely becomes necessary for the driver to turn the wheel 53 so'that the cable 46 at the left of the machine will be pulled. This will cause the cultivating elements to swing to the left and at the same time the steering mechanism willbe actuated to swing the wheels 9 to the left. This will cause the entire machine to veer towardthe left and as the cultivating elements reach their proper positions and it is then desired to continue them in its movement straightforward the operator manipulates the wheel 52 so as to gradually shiftthe ciiltivating elements to the right relative to the frame 1 which, obviously, will at the same time gradually turn the wheels 9 to the right until they are pointed. straightahead and the machine can then travel for ardly. it is unnecessary for-the driver to pay any attention to the positions of the wheels 9. Bywatching the (ailtivating elements and shifting them so as to maintain them at the proper positions relativeto the hills or furrows, thewheels 9 will take care of tllGITlSGlVGS and cause the machine to travel in the properdirection. When the end of the field is 'reachedand it is desired to turn the machine, the operator shifts the clutch member 5-1 so as to disengage it from the sleeve 51. Thus when the sh aft 52 is rotated the cultivating elements will not be shifted laterally. By means of the steering wheel 53 the sheaves 12 can be rotated through 180 to bring the wheels 9 into positions at right angles to their straight forward. positions. as indicated by broken lines in Figure 2. Should it be desired to make an abrupt turn to the left the operator pulls the brake lever 27 at the left of the machine. This will expand the brake member 23 against the drum 21 and hold the left hand sprocket and its shaft 17 against rotation. By then applying power the sprocket 20 at the other side of the machine will transmit motion through its chain to the sprocket 31 engaged thereby so that the right-hand wheel 32 will become the sole drive wheel and the machine will thus be turned to the left in a circle with the left wheel 32 as the center. By reversing this operation the machine can be caused to turn to the right.

By having wheels 9 and 32 which are adjustable upwardly and downwardly relative to the frame 1, said frame can be supported close to the ground where it will not readily upset and where it will be particularly well situated when the machine is used for pulling plows and heavy loads.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described the combination with a frame including drive wheels and guide wheels mounted for swinging about upwardly extending axes, of tool beamsmounted to swing laterally about individual axes, said beams being connected to the frame, a steering wheel, flexible driving connections between the steering wheel and the tool beams and between the steering wheel and the guide wheels, guides mounted on the frame, and additional guides adjacent to and movable with the tool beams, all of said guides being provided for said connections whereby rotation of the steering wheel in one direction will simultaneously turn said guide wheels to guide the machine in that direction and swing the tool beams in said direction about their individual axes.

2. In a machine of the class described the combination with a frame, drive wheels therefor, and guide wheels mounted to swing about upwardly extending axes, of wheels concentric with the respective axes and adapted,

when rotated, to swing the respective guide wheels to steer the machine, tool beams pivotally connected to the frame at points back of the guide wheels and mounted to swing laterally relative to the frame about individual axes, a steering shaft, a flexible driving connection between said shaft and theactuating wheels of the guide wheels, a flexible driving connection between said shaft and the respective tool beams, guides mounted on the frame, and additional guides adjacent to and movable with the tool beams, all of said guides being provided for said connections whereby, when the steering shaft is turned in one direction, the guide wheels will be swung simultaneously to direct the machine toward that side and the tool beams will be swung toward said side relative to the frame.

3. In a machine of the class described the combination with a frame, drive wheels therefor, and guide wheels mounted to swing about upwardly extending axes, of wheels concentric with the respective axes and adapted, when rotated, to swing the respective guide wheels to steer the machine, tool beams pivotally connected to the frame at points back of the guide wheels and mounted to swing laterally relative to the frame about individual axes, a steering shaft, a flexible driving connection between said shaft and the actuating wheels of the guide wheels, a flexi- V ble driving connection between said shaft and the respective tool beams, guides for said connections whereby, when the steering shaft is turned in one direction, the guide wheels will be swung simultaneously to direct the machine toward that side and the tool beams will be swung toward said side relative to the frame, meanswithin said connections for taking up slack, and means on the steering shaft for coupling or uncoupling the flexible connections of the means relative to the steering shaft.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

LESLIE s. GUSHMAN. 

